Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1887-09-03
REWARD or A GOOD DEED.
BY BELLE v. CHISHOLM.

The hrSt summer after John ana L
were married, we lived near an En-
glish family whose two children were
mutes. They were bright, interest
ing little fellows, and we soon became
very fond of them. AT first we con-
versed with them through the medi-
UNI of the slate, but as they were fire.
quent visitors, we decided to learn to
talk with our fingers. The children
were delighted and every evening
they came in to instruct their pupils.
John progressed finely, but | proved
rather a dull scholar. However, in
spite of Encouragement l preserved,
and in the end, l had my reward, as
we shall see.
Several years has passed away, and
our cottage in the village had been
exchanged for a more %pretenitous
house in the city. John was now
cashier in a wealthy bank, with fair
prospects of becoming a member of
the firm in the near future.
One night, just at dusk, he brought
a box. containing a large amount of
gold, and turning the key in the
door Of the secretary, said,-
"Nellie, on no account allow any
of the servants to tamper with this
lock. That little box you saw me
place in the inner drawer contains
five thousand dollars of the banks
funds. The money should have been
placed in the safe, but the messenger
sent to deliver it did not arrive until
the bank was closed, and | was
obliged to bring it home for safe
keeping. But no one knows about it,
so you will be perfectly safe. Put
this in your pocket, and if you have
occasion to open the door, be careful
to lock it again." he said, as he threw
the key into my lap.
Then | rendered that he was to
take the midnight express for a West
ern city, and l will confess | felt a
momentary trembling in the region
of the heart. However, the evening
passed swiftly away, and when John
babe me good-by at half-past elev-
en-, l had forgotten all about the pre-
cieus box in the secretary up stairs,
or the important key that lay so qui-
city in the bottom of my pocket. ]
was accustomed to being left with
the servants, for Johns midnight
visits were by no means rare when
the interests of his employers demand
ed a faithful agent.
| was tired that night, and retired
soon after John took his leave. How
long | had been in bed l cannot tell,
but [ was just falling into a light
slumber when a rustling behind the
curtains startled me. The next in.
slant the drapery was drawn back,
and a gruff voice close to my cal
whispered hoarsely,-
"Keep perfectly quiet, ma'am, and
not a hair of your head shall be harm
ed. All l want to know is where
your husband put that box of golC
that he brought home. 1t contains
enough to give me a good start il
life, and | will leave you unmolest
ed"
Almost paralized with fear, | coulC
not have spoken had he attempted t
kill me but the sight of the revolver
he held so close as almost to touch
my face gave me strength to poin
toward the secretary.
where is the key? Get up anC
open the door," he said, as l made
no reply. Hurry! and if you attemp
to deceive me, look out for a salute
from this" waving his revolver.
Just at that moment a quick stel
sounded on the stairs, and the villain
drew back, Whispering
"There is your husband, He ha
forgotten something. If you max,
any cutlery or in any way max,
known my presence, L will shoot hin
ON the spot. Speak cheerfully, anC
let him go without suspecting m!
hiding-place. Remember, if you of
fer to get up, or warn him | will no
be accountable for the result"
He had only time to crouch down
among the curtains when the doc
opened, admitting John, fully equip
ped for his journey.
"Don't be alarmed, Nellie" he be
gan, at sight of my white face. :"
forgot that deed Of Harknet's, and
as the train is thirty minutes late,
concluded to run back after it,"